Renaissance Faire

[eden eyes]

So the Pensacola Ren Faire is coming up in March (ish) and I would like to perform. However I'm really on the fence about it. I don't do tribal, and I know little to hardly any folklore! I do modern Turk-American Cabaret so flashy and sequins and lycra...

should i just attend as a viewer and not perform? I dont want to look like i'm in tribal or folklore drag but I love to perform and it could really help my business.

any tips/suggestions/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Daimona]

Just to get you started on costuming ideas:
Have you read Shiras article on costumes for SCA and Ren.faires?

I've never been to a ren.faire (do these exist in Europe at all?), but I've seen pictures and made costumes and costuming guides for fantasy live role plays set in various historical inspired environments. Dawn Devine Browns books "Costuming from the hip" and "From turban to toe ring" was very useful when searching for inspiration.


A kaftan or galabeya could be an easy and simple alternative. It doesn't require a lot of sewing skills if you are making it yourself, and it is probably also available in some dance stores. But unless it has a very snug fit and if you use your torso a lot when dancing, this is probably not the right costuming style for you.

Another alternative could be the Ottoman anteri or yelek with pantaloons and lots of scarfs around your hips. A fitted anteri/yelek with several scarfs at your hips could probably help you keep your turkish-inspired dance style.


I hope these two ideas are useful for you.


And whatever style or fabric you choose - please do avoid neon glowing colors on your costume. Oh.. lycra wasn't invented at that time either..

 

[Marya]

So the Pensacola Ren Faire is coming up in March (ish) and I would like to perform. However I'm really on the fence about it. I don't do tribal, and I know little to hardly any folklore! I do modern Turk-American Cabaret so flashy and sequins and lycra...

should i just attend as a viewer and not perform? I dont want to look like i'm in tribal or folklore drag but I love to perform and it could really help my business.

any tips/suggestions/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Many Ren Faires have published guidelines as to what is acceptable in terms of costuming, performances etc. The one nearest me forbids recorded music, only live unamplified music is allowed.

Do you know any folk dances from Turkey, Iran, etc. Persian dance costumes from the Quatar Dynasty are quite beautiful as is the dance.

Marya

 

[Creaky Old Dancer]

ren faire

Hi Eden I agree with Daimona's idea about the anteri/yelek... it's what I wear for SCA events. Also the anteri makes a good coverup for regular shows. Creaks

 

[Ariadne]

I dance Rom/"Turk-American Cabaret" myself (my teacher is Romani) and the only places I have performed so far is at fairs. That may be why there was an impression that I do tribal fusion. In my experiences at fairs, both before and after I started dancing, there is not only no problem with "cab" style dancing the audience loves it! The key is in the costuming.

As Marya stated some fairs will have published guidelines of what is and is not acceptable. If they do not the "Turk-American Cabaret" costuming I have seen/worn has been quite varied. Sequins and beading are flat out; after that though it is all about impressions. Tribal cottan or silky circle skirts, harem pants, brocade cab belts and Ghawazee vests, peasant blouses cut high to show the stomach or Ghawazee coats with or without sleeves to cover, coin belts, scarves scarves and more scarves, and kuchi of any kind is more then acceptable. Really the only limitation is your imagination it just has to "look" ethnic in some way shape or form.

Have fun!

 

[maria_harlequin]

I agree that the key is in the costuming!!! I think you can take inspiration from belly dancers in the Bay area during the 70's and Bal Anat.

Also instead of performing to full Egyptian orchestral pieces or Arabic pop (assuming that they allow taped/recorded music), you might look into western "Middle Eastern" music. Loreena Mckennitt does westernized Middle Eastern music beautifully in my opinion (Marco Polo is a favorite but I know plenty of belly dancers are sick of it! I think the live versions are better suited for performing to than the recorded one from her Book of Secrets album).

Here are some clips that might be inspiring:

Music:




Autumn Ward: The music is very, very ren faire ish but her movements are far more traditional than they are Tribal. And her costuming rocks!

 

[eden eyes]

wow i wasn't expecting so many replies!! thanks everyone!!

ok, so i agree i dont want to wear sequins and beads and lycra, it just wouldn't fit with the whole scene. but i DO have a harem pant and bell sleeved wrap choli set that is turquoise and poofy and gold and silver lined. it's absolutely gorgeous and i always wanted a reason to wear it

I dont know hardly any roma, only a few signature things that i like to throw in sometimes, but i know someone who does, maybe i can hound them into helping me out a little. maybe i can get a silver or gold set of hip scarves and stuff and pin them to a bra and where it with the choli wrap! i would rather wear the harem pants instead of a skirt for sure, that way i can do some awesome floorwork without flashing the 10 year old kids in helmets hahahaha. maybe i can borrow some various colored wraps from the many local tribal dancers. that way i can avoid the modern look while still being colorful (my "personality" when i dance is very happy, upbeat, engaging, spirited, etc).

as for the music i have some turkish sounding turkish music (aka no Tarkan haha) that is soo fun to dance to because it is fast and upbeat! and they do allow music on cds, thank goodness.

thanks so much everyone!

______________________________________

after reading the article:

WOW!! haha believe it or not, there was nothing BUT tribal dancing last year at the Ren Faire. Some tribal fusions too with the kind of electronic music (which i thought was a terrible idea, so did a few other dancers) and they were wearing what they normally do, which is everything Shira describes not to wear to a Ren Faire. just goes to show how authentic ours here in Pensacola is haha :lol:

 

[Ariadne]

Even if you do wear a skirt wear the pants too. It's fairly standard no matter the rest of the outfit considering that Ren fairs are outside and one never knows what the wind will be like. I shudder to think of what would (not could) happen if someone didn't.

I tracked down some pictures from Shifting Sands Bellydance who perform at the fair in Las Vegas: 2008, 2006, 2005. I don't know if they'll help but there is some variety if you look through more then one year.

 

[adiemus]

I am so envious, cos I don't think I've ever heard of a Ren Fair in Kiwiland! Someone from NZ might correct me on this, but I don't think there are any - and they sound so much fun....what an excuse to get dressed up and perform!!

 

[BDmarianne]

I'm hoping that you accepted the offer to do the Ren Faire. There are dancers that do the fairs around here and they're amazing - and that doesn't have anything to do with their relevance or ability to "fit in" with the "scene." Any belly dancer who chooses to do a Ren Faire is always accepted and appreciated, in my experience anyway!

 

[~Diana~]

oh I wish there was something like this close to me. I would totally fly in to do something like this but alas nothing is even remotely close.